The Last House on the Left [Collector's Edition]

Director: Wes Craven Wes Craven

Overview

Horror master Wes Craven's powerful debut was this controversial low-budget remake of Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring (1959). One of the more brutal rape-revenge films, it is unflinchingly explicit in its depiction of the vicious abuse and slaughter of two teenage girls at the hands of a Mansonesque gang of criminals. The revenge segments are no less shocking, including a murder by bucksaw, a throat slashing, and an oral castration. The acting is amateurish and the cinematography is bargain-basement, but something in the almost documentary-like nature of the film makes it devastating nonetheless. Along with Night of the Living Dead (1968) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), it is one of the early classics of graphic horror.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/24/2009
UPC:	0883904114949
Original Release:	1972
Rating:	NR
Source:	Mgm (Video & Dvd)
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:24:00
Sales rank:	19,774

Special Features

CC; Audio commentary with actors David Hess, Marc Sheffler and Fred Lincoln; Still Standing: The Legacy of the Last Home on the Left featurette with Wes Craven; Celluloid Crime of the Century documentary; Scoring Last House featurette; Tales That Will Tear Your Heart Out unifinished short film by Wes Craven; Deleted scene; Never-before-seen footage

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Lucy Grantham	Phyllis Stone
Sandra Cassel	Mari Collingwood
David Hess	Krug,Composer
Marc Sheffler	Junior
Jeramie Rain	Sadie
Fred Lincoln	Weasel
Gaylord St. James	Dr. Collingwood
Cynthia Carr	Mrs. Collingwood
Martin Kove	Deputy
Ada Washington	Truck Driver
Marshall Anker	Sheriff

Technical Credits

Wes Craven

Wes Craven	Director,Screenwriter
Sean S. Cunningham	Producer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- The Last House on the Left
1. Main Title/Woman [7:12]
2. Escaped Convicts [4:31]
3. Kidnap & Cake [7:43]
4. Wild Ride [5:07]
5. Close to Home [7:01]
6. Run for It! [5:32]
7. Nowhere to Go [5:01]
8. Lost Innocence [8:36]
9. Chickens [4:05]
10. House Guests [5:39]
11. Discovery [4:19]
12. Guilty [1:21]
13. Booby Traps [8:07]
14. Gone Crazy [4:04]
15. For Mari [:09]
16. End Credits [4:12]

Menu

Disc #1 -- The Last House on the Left
   Play
   Language Selection
      Audio
         English Mono
         Commentary by Actors David Hess, Marc Sheffler and Fred Lincoln
      Subtitles
         English
         Spanish
         French
         None
   Scene Selection
   Special Features
      Commentary by Actors David Hess, Marc Sheffler and Fred Lincoln: On/Off
      Still Standing: The Legacy of "The Last House on the Left"
      Celluloid Crime of the Century
      Scoring Last House
      Tales That'll Tear Your Heart Out
      Deleted Scene - Mari Dying At the Lake
      Never Before Seen Footage
      Trailers
         Play All
         Pathology
         Mr. Brooks
         Asylum
         Hit and Run
         The Betrayed

Editorial Reviews

Before he was known for the Scream trilogy and the Nightmare on Elm Street series, writer-director Wes Craven made a bloody imprint with his directorial debut, Last House on the Left (1972). A no-budget, exploitation update of Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring, the story concerns the brutalization of two teenage girls (Sandra Cassel and Lucy Grantham) by a quartet of on-the-lam murderers, and the inevitable revenge exacted by one set of parents. While heavy on gore, the film distinguishes itself from other drive-in transgressions by intelligently investigating its characters' psychology. A clear social line is drawn between the wealthy parents, who live in the country, and the crazed killers from the city -- a "family" that brings to mind a bargain-basement version of Charlie Manson's clan. But when evil bloodlust meets familial revenge, the characters emerge as merely people, all capable of the same remorse, viciousness, and ability to bleed red. Relentlessly pushing the envelope of depravity, Last House both outraged censors and delighted midnight movie fans upon its release (a scene in which a victim is forced to urinate on herself, for instance, is particularly disquieting). The notorious trailer only cemented cult appeal by cautioning audiences to keep reminding themselves, "It's only a movie." But because of volatile audience reaction, for years only butchered versions of the film were available for consumption. This 30th anniversary DVD features the complete, original cut in all its raunchy glory. It's a welcome arrival of an unforgettable classic that has lost none of its power to shock.

Barnes & Noble - Tony Nigro

Horror master Wes Craven's powerful debut was this controversial low-budget remake of Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring (1959). One of the more brutal rape-revenge films, it is unflinchingly explicit in its depiction of the vicious abuse and slaughter of two teenage girls at the hands of a Mansonesque gang of criminals. The revenge segments are no less shocking, including a murder by bucksaw, a throat slashing, and an oral castration. The acting is amateurish and the cinematography is bargain-basement, but something in the almost documentary-like nature of the film makes it devastating nonetheless. Along with Night of the Living Dead (1968) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), it is one of the early classics of graphic horror.

All Movie Guide - Robert Firsching